Central Pula has no beaches. The nearest ones at Stoja and along Lungomare between Veruda and Valsaline are adequate, but if you're taking a city bus (nos.l and 4) to get there, you may as well take the nos.2a and 3a to Verudela, its nicer shingle beaches and best-in-town lunches. If you've come for a beach holiday, leave Pula for Medulin and the Windsurfing centre of Premantura (for both, seepp76-77), both a regulär bus journey from Pula, on the nos.25 and 26.
Another Option is Fratarsko island. In summer locals decamp here permanently, spending nights under canvas among the shady pines and commuting to the city by ferry. There are free showers too. Ferries from Bunarina, heaving with sun worshippers for the ten-minute crossing, Shuttle across every 20 minutes in season.
The major excursion from Pula is to the Brijuni Islands (see p 78). Boats only go from Fazana, 7km (4.5 miles) north-west of Pula by hourly bus No.21.
Vodnjan, 11km (7 miles) north of Pula (bus no.22, 20mins), houses the biggest church in Istria, St Blaise (052 511 420; open summer 9am-7pm Mon-Sat, 2-7pm Sun, winter by reservation only). Its main attraction lies in an area curtained off behind the altar: mummified bodies of three saints brought here from Venice. There is a 35kn Charge to see them. There are also literally hundreds of saintly relics in the sacristy (30kn). In town you'll find the rustic Vodnjanka (Istarska, 052 511 435; open summer lOam-lpm, 5pm-midnight daily, winter lOam-lpm, 5pm-midnight Mon-Sat) serves süperb Istrian specialities.